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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Barnacles, Margate
Margate
CT9 1DD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about Barnacles
Says freehouse outside so popped in as an impromptu wildcard. Actually it’s a nicely appointed place with an old skool (actually installed in the early 80s) interior, floor-to-ceiling golden wood with a pub carpet and a close-to-extinct feature of baffled yellow glass in the porch. Decent atmosphere with a set of regulars in and around the servery chatting to the barmaid. Two cask options, Doom Bar and a decent Gadds She Sells Seashells (NBSS 3) - beware it's plastic glasses if you drink outside. I’d say this worth a crawl inclusion if it's a quieter part of the day, I enjoyed my 20 minutes.
On 24th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5589 recommendations about 5570 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Barnacles Steak & Ale
This mid-19th Century building was previously the bar of the Royal Albion Hotel but was converted in the 1980’s into a separate entity (the hotel itself is now flats and apartments). Since 2005 it has been part of the Thorley Taverns chain.
The slightly rambling interior is divided into a main bar area, a cosy middle room and a rear section contaiuning a pool table and dart board. There are large expanses of exposed wood throughout and parts of the rear section feel like being below deck on an old galleon that make you expct the pub to lurch from side to side. The middle room in particular is quite a cosy spot separated from the main body of the pub by a dividing glazed screen. There is also some outside pavement seating overlooking the harbour.
The décor contains plenty of nautical pictures and ship wheels as well as several photos of the town in days gone by including a large panorama in the pool table section. Unfortunately there is also an abundant display of promotional material that clutters things up. There are a couple of TV's showing sport and piped music but nothing intrusive. Film buffs may wish to note that the pub featured in the film Last Orders.
On the beer side of things, there were 2 ales available on my visuit, Courage Dirctiors and Ripple Steam Best Bitter which at £3.10 for the latter was reasonably priced and good quality. Service was welcoming and efficient.
It may be a little contrived but the place certainly has some character and appeared to attract a decent customer base. It certainly comes over as one of the better places in town.
On 30th July 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]